Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly TreatedBirnbaum, Max
Science
Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated
Birnbaum, Max
Tuberculin; Tuberculosis
The _eye_ is as frequently affected by scrofula. Swelling of the lids
and inflammation of the glands are the lighter forms. Pustules on the
connective tissue of the eye and on the cornea, accompanied by
photophobia, cramp in the lids and flowing of tears are those severe
forms that are so frequently observed in scrofula, and that often leave
opaque and incurable spots on the cornea of the eye.
Swelling of the _glands_ has at all times been a characteristic
phenomenon of scrofula. A swelling is merely the result of diseases of
the mucous membrane of the throat or nose, of herpes of the scalp or
face, of inflammations of the ears, eyes, periosteum, bones, etc. In the
beginning the swelling of the glands is painless and results in flat
swellings of about the size of filberts, which may be moved back and
forth; such glandular swellings may exist for years, without showing the
slightest alterations.
With renewed attacks they enlarge and may become of considerable size.
At times single glands become inflamed, hurt when pressed and develop
abscesses which perforate the skin after it has become inflamed and
reddened.
These abscesses may heal within a few days. In the majority of cases,
however, they remain for a longer period, months and even years and
result in the well-known tumid, hard and immovable scars.
Inflammation of the periosteum and of the bones is one of the instances
of scrofula. Most frequently _spina ventosa_ is found; the same consists
of a gradual, painless swelling of the diseased bones, most frequently
on the fingers and toes, so that they become bottle-shaped. The skin
covering these swellings is pale and tense. The swelling may gradually
disappear or begin to suppurate. Besides this hip- and knee-joint
inflammation are observed, also inflammations of the ankle, elbow-joint,
spine, etc.; especially in the case of diseased bones it is extremely
difficult to fix a dividing line between scrofula and tuberculosis.
The frequence of anaemia with scrofula is only a _result_ of the disease
and not a symptom. As a result of scrofula nutrition and assimilation
become impaired, mostly in the cases of extreme suppuration.
Scrofula is a chronic disease. In many cases it is completely cured, the
lighter cases after several months and the more malignant after several
years. Extreme scrofula may often remain until puberty and may be
completely healed.
_Fatal_ results are due to scrofulously diseased bones, joints or
glands, and it can not be denied that a large number of children succumb
in this manner. Fatal results may also be due to additional diseases,
such as pneumonia, pleurisy, intestinal catarrh, etc.
It has been frequently observed that _tuberculosis_ succeeds scrofula.
It is a well-known fact that scrofula furnishes the largest contingent
for tuberculosis.
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